Solution couples ML-10 apoptosis imaging agent with PET and analysis software.
Aposense has agreed to supply Roche with its imaging solution, EarliTest, for use in Roche’s oncology development program. Under the terms of the nonexclusive agreement, Roche will fund the clinical trials and pay Aposense certain license and milestone fees. Data generated from the collaboration will provide an opportunity for the parties to expand utility of EarliTest to novel oncological therapies.
EarliTest comprises the ML-10 imaging agent for imaging apoptosis with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and dedicated image analysis software. It is designed to image tumor response early during treatment, Aposense points out.
“This collaboration with Roche demonstrates the interest within the pharmaceutical industry in using novel tools for early assessment of response to anticancer treatment in clinical trials,” says Yoram Ashery, CEO of Aposense. “The delayed availability of feedback on drug activity using traditional methods is a significant unmet need, not only for patients, but also in the development of novel therapies for combating cancer.”
Aposense uses its platform technology of rationally designed small molecules to target cells undergoing apoptosis. Besides the EarliTest image analysis system, its molecular imaging pipeline includes solutions for in vivo imaging of apoptosis, like ML-10, and for apoptosis imaging with PET, which is in multicenter Phase II trials.
